Surfing in Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima centers on Morocco's far northern coastline, where Atlantic-facing beach breaks near Tangier catch swell from the north through the west and mostly suit intermediate surfers. This corner of the country wraps around the Strait of Gibraltar, so the coast shifts character as you move along it: the exposed Atlantic side around Tangier and Cap Spartel picks up open-ocean groundswell, while more sheltered zones tuck in behind headlands and hold their shape in different conditions.
Most of the surf here is beach break over sand, with a few reef setups adding variety for anyone wanting a change from the sandy peaks. Waves tend to work best on a north to west swell, so the classic pattern is open Atlantic energy wrapping into the beaches. An easterly wind grooms these west-facing breaks, holding the faces clean when the Levante blows off the land. Mid tide is the reliable window, with some spots also coming to life around high tide.
The region spreads across several towns worth knowing. Tangier anchors the northwest with a handful of spots close to the city, and Cap Spartel just to the west marks the headland where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. Ajdir, Bahia Asmir, and Torres el Kal'a add more options as you track along the coast. Notable spots include Briech, Cap Spartel, and Eden Plage, which give a good sense of the mix between beach peaks and headland setups.
Sizes typically run from around 1 ft on the smallest days up to roughly 6 ft when a solid swell fills in, a range that keeps most breaks in playful, rideable territory rather than heavy. Because much of the coast leans toward intermediate ability, surfers comfortable reading a beach break and handling a bit of current will get the most from a session, though the smaller days still leave room for those building confidence.
For forecasting, the key ingredients are a north-through-west swell, an easterly wind to clean things up, and a mid tide to time your paddle out. Autumn and winter generally bring the more consistent Atlantic swells to this stretch of Morocco, while calmer summer spells favor the smaller, more forgiving days. Move between the Atlantic-facing beaches near Tangier and the sheltered pockets further along the coast, and you can usually find a corner that lines up with the conditions on any given day.
